AgWired

FFA is big business from the looks of this announcement about their new Merchandise Center. I guess you learn something new everyday. I had no idea their merchandise business was so big.

This November, the National FFA Organization will break ground on the future home of its new 36,000-square-foot Merchandise Center. This $10 million operation includes the merchandising, licensing and customer and distribution services departments. “The reason we’re building the merchandise center is to be able to meet current customer demand and build capacity for future growth,” said Lee Anne Shiller, director of merchandise operations.

Duke Construction has been contracted to build the facility. RATIO Architects Inc., who designed the Indianapolis-based National FFA Center nine years ago, will design the $3.5 million merchandise center. The new facility will also offer tours, and to enhance member visits, the building will be specifically designed to allow tour groups to watch while plaques are being engraved. Nearly 40 existing FFA staff are expected to move into the center by June, with the capacity to house 70. The move allows for a $1.4 million expansion at the National FFA Center that will be completed prior to the 2007 National FFA Convention.

Thanks go to Grace Oh for this picture of Janis McFarland receiving her award at the recent CropLife America annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

CLA recognized Janis McFarland, Syngenta, with the association’s highest and longest-standing honor, the Lea Hitchner Award. As Chair of the Strategic Oversight Council (SOC), Janis is a dedicated CLA contributor and adviser. Jay Vroom, President & CEO of CLA, cited McFarland’s long time involvement with CLA. Currently McFarland heads Syngenta Regulatory Affairs for North America and Mexico.

“Janis finds time for CLA and is always willing to help when asked,” said Vroom. “She’s worked to bring forward a significant change for issue refocus and management. She’s also helped streamline our initiatives to continue to better serve our CLA members.”

There were numerous other awards presented as well.

There’s boot camps for everything it seems like. Even cattlemen. I’ll bet this is one boot camp where you’ll see a lot of boots.

Cattle producers should plan to attend the Cattlemen’s Boot Camp, December 18-19 in Stillwater, Okla. The American Angus Association and Angus Foundation sponsor the event, hosted by Oklahoma State University. Industry experts will focus on all segments of the industry from production to meeting consumer demands.

This is the fourth Boot Camp conducted by the Foundation and Association at various universities across the country, and allows cattle producers the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the industry and basic production skills. The Boot Camp begins at 1 p.m. on Monday, December 18 on campus. An intense afternoon of discussion on end-product merit and consumer needs will kick off the event, and attendees will view actual carcass differences. A bull selection case study will fill the evening, giving the attendees an opportunity to use the information they have used in a mock sale. The Boot Camp continues on Tuesday, December 19 with presentations on nutrition and reproduction and creating value in the cow herd.